Veronika Huta

University of Ottawa · School of Psychology

The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised (HEMA-R) measures eudaimonic, hedonic, hedonic pleasure, and hedonic comfort motivations. We tested the psychometric properties of the HEMA-R among Turkish-speaking university students (N = 255) and adults (N = 460). Confirmatory factor analyses among university students demonstrated both tw...

This study (N = 491) examined how hedonic orientation (prioritizing pleasure, comfort/painlessness) and eudaimonic orientation (prioritizing authenticity, excellence, growth) relate to behaviours that help or hinder others and to willingness to help others in different situations. We found that eudaimonic orientation related positively to helping o...

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential moderating roles of eudaimonic orientation (prioritizing authenticity, meaning, excellence, growth) and hedonic orientation (prioritizing pleasure, comfort) on the link between parental status and well-being. A sample of 473 parents and 138 nonparents from Canada and the United States completed...

The degree of distinctness between eudaimonia and hedonia has often been studied by comparing subjective well-being and psychological well-being. It is argued here that the distinctness is best studied when both concepts are measured in parallel terms, e.g., both as momentary feelings, both as trait-level motives, etc. We classified measures of eud...

This study assessed adults' motivations in the pursuit of well-being at different ages across the adult lifespan, examining females and males separately. We studied four major well-being motivations: eudaimonic motivation (seeking meaning, authenticity, excellence, and growth), hedonic pleasure motivation (seeking pleasure, enjoyment, and fun), hed...

Motives for hedonia (pleasure, fun) and eudaimonia (living life to one’s potential) underlie the universal pursuit of well-being (Ryan & Deci, 2001). Yet, little is known about these motives in youth, despite their relevance for children and adolescents and the importance of understanding the development of well-being motives. In three samples of y...

Research on hedonic and eudaimonic orientations has previously focused on their effects on well-being experiences. Very little is known about their associations with functioning. A preliminary objective of the study was to establish the factorial validity of the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities-Revised (HEMA-R) on an Italian sample (N...

The Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities (HEMA) scale measures well-being as a series of orientations. We investigated the HEMA scale’s psychometric properties among two Japanese samples in longitudinal studies over periods of one month (N = 385) and two months (N = 224). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified three subsca...

Piano teachers believe that dropping out of piano lessons before reaching a moderate mastery of the instrument is a common problem among students. We used self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985) to measure the motivation of dropout students and to discover if amotivation and controlled motivation are related to attrition from private piano le...

In two studies (N = 191, N = 342), we tested whether the difference between hedonic orientation (prioritizing pleasure, comfort/painlessness) and eudaimonic orientation (prioritizing authenticity, excellence, growth) mapped onto a difference between narrow focus of concern (me, now, tangible) and broad scope of concern (we, future, broad implicatio...

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and construct validity of The Motivation for Learning Music (MLM) questionnaire, designed to measure the autonomous motivation of young music students. Based on Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan in Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior, Plenum, New Y...

The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and construct validity of The Motivation for Learning Music (MLM) questionnaire, designed to measure the autonomous motivation of young music students. Based on Self-Determination Theory (Deci and Ryan in Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior, Plenum, New Y...

In this article, I have decided not to report on a specific program of research from my lab but rather to discuss the nature of eudaimonia more generally. Over the last couple of years, I have been trying to integrate the psychological literature on eudaimonia. This conference is more deeply theoretical than most, so it is the ideal venue for this...

The eudaimonic orientation (seeking authenticity, meaning, excellence, growth) and hedonic orientation (seeking pleasure, comfort) are two of the primary ways in which people define and pursue a good life (Huta & Waterman, 2014). Research has shown that eudaimonic and hedonic orientations have substantial but different impacts on people's lives: th...

Background The theoretical conceptualisation of hedonic (HWB; pleasure) and eudaimonic (EWB; meaning) well‐being has rarely been examined among cardiac rehabilitation (CR) graduates, including its relationship with moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA). First, this study examined the potential bidirectional relationship between MVPA and HWB...

The public and media often misunderstand positive psychology. It is perceived as a “happiology” which preaches that people should seek maximal and perpetual happiness. This perception is woefully off target. Rigorous research, which forms the foundation of positive psychology, shows that it’s not about chasing happiness per se, it’s about engaging...

In this article, Huta gives her conceptual and operational definitions of the subjective experience of meaning. She also reviews some of her empirical evidence showing how the experience of meaning is different from the experience of happiness. She then moves into metaphysics and attempts to characterize the nature of meaning on a much deeper level...

This chapter summarizes the work of Veronika Huta and researchers who have used her measure of eudaimonic and hedonic orientations. Huta collaborated with Waterman to classify definitions of eudaimonia and hedonia into four categories – orientations/motives/values, behaviors, experiences/feelings, and functioning/habits/abilities. In an ongoing stu...

Veronika Huta is an associate professor of psychology at the University of Ottawa, Canada. She has a PhD in clinical psychology from McGill University. She conducts research on eudaimonia, hedonia, elevation, and meaning, and works on developing an integrated theoretical model of the eudaimonia-hedonia distinction in the domains of wellbeing orient...

This chapter provides a detailed and expanded summary of concepts associated with eudaimonia and hedonia in all four of the definition categories that have been used in psychology research (as detailed in Huta & Waterman, 2014): eudaimonia and hedonia as orientations, as sets of behaviors, as subjective experiences, and as healthy forms of function...

This chapter is Huta's most developed theoretical model of eudaimonia and hedonia to date. It details the nature of eudaimonia and hedonia in each of the four following definition categories: orientations, behaviors, experiences, and functioning. The chapter includes a proposal for the variables that may represent the one cell that has been previou...

Much of the current psychology research on well-being similarly addresses hedonia and/or eudaimonia, making the hedonic–eudaimonic distinction a central concept in positive psychology. This chapter first discusses existing definitions and research. It outlines a full range of approaches uses one specific approach to defining hedonia and eudaimonia,...

We examined the effects of choices parents can make regarding their child’s piano lessons: age started, instruction method, taking exams, taking group lessons, sitting in on lessons, helping with home practice, giving rewards for practising. Parental choices were correlated with the following child variables regarding piano playing: autonomous moti...

Two major goals of this paper were, first to examine the cross-cultural consistency of the factor structure of the Hedonic and Eudaimonic Motives for Activities (HEMA) scale, and second to illustrate the advantages of using Bayesian estimation for such an examination. Bayesian estimation allows for more flexibility in model specification by making...

Many of us have asked ourselves: What is a good life? What makes a life worth living? This is one of the great existential questions. The answers we develop shape our priorities, choices, and goals, and the very way we decide what is desirable. In conceptions of a good life, the two perspectives that have figured most prominently are the hedonic vi...

This study compared 50 Chinese and 100 North American Caucasian children aged 6 to 17 who were learning piano, in terms of their work ethic, motivation, and parental influences. Compared to North American Caucasians, Chinese children and parents believed more strongly that musical ability requires hard work, and Chinese children were more intereste...

Interest in eudaimonia (e.g., growth, meaning, authenticity, excellence) and its distinction from hedonia (e.g., pleasure, enjoyment, comfort, absence of distress) is growing rapidly, as researchers recognize that both concepts are central to the study of well-being. Yet research on these concepts faces challenges as well: findings based on differe...

Recent research has supported the use of mindfulness and acceptance-based interventions for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The purpose of the present study was to compare mindfulness and acceptance-based group therapy (MAGT) with cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT) with respect to outcome. It was hypothesized that MAGT and CBGT would both be...

This article distinguishes between hedonic and eudaimonic approaches to wellness, with the former focusing on the outcome of happiness or pleasure and the latter focusing not so much on outcomes as on the process of living well. We present a model of eudaimonia that is based in self-determination theory, arguing that eudaimonic living can be charac...

This chapter compares eudaimonic motives and hedonic motives in terms of their well-being correlates and consequences, the personality characteristics associated with them, and the behavior of one’s parents. A key conclusion is: We need to pursue both eudaimonia and hedonia to achieve the greatest and most well-rounded personal well-being. This is...

Th is chapter provides an overview of eudaimonia. Th e topic is oft en better understood in terms of what it is not, however. Eudaimonia will therefore be contrasted with hedonia, which is usually the fi rst topic that people think of when considering well-being. Much of the chapter will focus on pulling together an understanding of the meaning of...

This chapter reviews the literature on eudaimonia (the pursuit, manifestation, and/or experience of virtue, personal growth, self-actualization, flourishing, excellence, and meaning) and its distinction from hedonia (the pursuit and/or experience of pleasure, enjoyment, comfort, and reduced pain). The chapter briefly outlines concepts related to eu...

This chapter compares eudaimonic motives and hedonic motives in terms of their well-being correlates and consequences, the personality characteristics associated with them, and the behavior of one’s parents. A key conclusion is: We need to pursue both eudaimonia and hedonia to achieve the greatest and most well-rounded personal well-being. This is...

Past research has examined the link of eudaimonic and hedonic motives with personal well-being, but less is known about their link with the well-being of close others. Also, empirical data on the link with the well-being of close others would address an ongoing debate regarding whether eudaimonia is egoistic and possibly detrimental to others. Part...

Research on eudaimonia (seeking to use and develop the best in oneself) and hedonia (seeking pleasure, enjoyment, comfort), two dominant ways of pursuing the good life, has previously focused on their well-being consequences and correlates. Little is known about their predictors. Two retrospective studies with undergraduates began investigating the...

Environmental sustainability is becoming an important, ongoing challenge as people around the world show an increasing concern about how we can meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. To achieve sustainability, we must not only attempt to reconcile growing concerns about a full spect...

Hedonia (seeking pleasure and comfort) and eudaimonia (seeking to use and develop the best in oneself) are often seen as opposing pursuits, yet each may contribute to well-being in different ways. We conducted four studies (two correlational, one experience-sampling, and one intervention study) to determine outcomes associated with activities motiv...

Hedonia (seeking pleasure and comfort) and eudaimonia (seeking to use and develop the best in oneself) are often seen as opposing pursuits, yet each may contribute to well-being in different ways. We conducted four studies (two correlational, one experience-sampling, and one intervention study) to determine outcomes associated with activities motiv...

Research programs examining psychological strengths and vulnerabilities have remained largely separate, making it difficult to determine the relative contributions of strengths and vulnerabilities to well-being. Two studies (241 normals, 54 depressed outpatients) compared certain psychological strengths (Transcendence subscales, Values In Action In...

Kashdan, Biswas-Diener and King (20086. Sen , A . 1999 . Development as freedom , New York : Knopf . View all references) debated with Waterman (20087. Waterman , AS . 2008 . Reconsidering happiness: A eudaimonist's perspective . Journal of Positive Psychology , 3 : 234 – 252 . [Taylor & Francis Online]View all references) the value of eudaimonic p...

Given the lack of unequivocal findings on person-career fit, this investigation aims to gain insight into the role of cognitive styles in understanding students’ career preferences by two complementary studies. In study 1, we examined whether students (n = 84) with different cognitive styles differ in their entrepreneurial attitudes. Results showed...

Generativity involves raising and guiding the next generation, contributing to society, and creating new products and ideas. It has clearly been related to personal well-being, yet little is known about why this relationship exists. According to McAdams and de St. Aubin (J Pers Soc Psychol, 62:1003–1015, 1992), generativity is motivated by a desire...

To explore the role of perfectionism across anxiety disorders, 175 patients with either panic disorder (PD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia, or specific phobia, as well as 49 nonclinical volunteers, completed two measures [Frost, R. O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R., (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive...

To measure the extent to which anxiety disorders interfere with various domains of functioning, the Illness Intrusiveness Ratings Scale (IIRS) was completed by individuals with a DSM-IV principal diagnosis of panic disorder (PD; N = 35), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; N = 51), or social phobia (SP; N = 49). Although the three groups did not di...

To explore the role of perfectionism across anxiety disorders, 175 patients with either panic disorder (PD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia, or specific phobia, as well as 49 nonclinical volunteers, completed two measures [Frost, R. O., Marten, P., Lahart, C., & Rosenblate, R., (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive...